Fifa World Cup News

The latest research about Brazil’s vibrant travel market will be unveiled at the WTM Vision Conference – São Paulo next month. The event will provide delegates with crucial industry forecasts, as the country prepares to host this year’s FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Manchester City were not the only ones celebrating the climax of the Premier League season yesterday, with Eithad Airways also sharing in the plaudits after a £400 million sponsorship deal with the club last year. As the celebrations subside, Breaking Travel News here takes a look at some of the other momentous deals which have married the interests of sport to the travel sector.

Visa has launched a new report illustrating the positive impact of mega-sporting events and the influence they have on tourism spending in the event host countries. Among the first organisations to note the increasing important of mega-sporting events to tourism was World Sports Tourism Congress, which will be examining the impact of the phenomenon during the Rugby World Cup later this year.

Football supporters heading to the next three World Cup tournaments have been warned to brace themselves for big hotel price hikes and expensive rooms. The warning came after it was revealed that last year average prices in the 2010 host nation South Africa leapt 21% to £118, with Cape Town, registering a 28% increase to £122.

Fifa has provisionally suspended executive committee members Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner after a meeting of its ethics committee. However, no action will be taken against Fifa president Sepp Blatter. Fifa also confirmed that the presidential election will go ahead as planned on Wednesday.

Fifa has launched an ethic investigation into its president, Sepp Blatter. The move follows a charge by Mohamed Bin Hammam, his rival in next week’s presidency election, that the Swiss head of football’s governing body knew about alleged cash payments.

Having won hosting rights to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Russia is investing billions to bring its infrastructure up to FIFA standards. However the possible legacy gains are unlimited, as Breaking Travel News finds out.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has come out fighting in defence of the decision to give the World Cup to Russia and Qatar. Insisting losing bidders – in particular England – accept the decision gracefully, Blatter argued the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 competitions were “natural” choices.

Sepp Blatter has apologised to gay football fans around the world after allegedly making homophobic comments earlier this week. The FIFA president was forced to backtrack after stating homosexual fans should “refrain from sexual activity” during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has moved to quell growing concern among gay football fans over the decision to award the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar. Homosexuality remains illegal in the country, with fears the tournament will therefore not be open to gay fans.

Later today Sepp Blatter and his colleagues at FIFA will break the hearts of the millions when they announce who will host the 2018 World Cup. But for one bidder the countdown will begin to the great sporting event on earth. Here Breaking Travel News takes a look at the competitors.